Guest blogger Haley Desjardins shares her three city European Adventure to London, Amsterdam and Berlin. When she is not traveling the world, Haley attends Tuffs University School of Medicine.

Spur of the moment trips are possible! My friends and I came across a great flight deal in and out of Berlin so we bought our tickets and headed out 2 weeks later. On our itinerary was London, Amsterdam and Berlin. London London was obviously the most English friendly, and it was a great place to ease into the Europe experience. Also, the metro system (called the Tube) was very easy to use and extended all over London which made sights easy to see. While there, you have to visit the places on the tourist bucket list of course. Tower of London, Tower Bridge (often misunderstood as London Bridge), Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the London Eye are in some pretty touristy areas but definitely must-sees while in the city. I also took a trip to Buckingham Palace and was lucky enough to catch a changing of the guard. If this is something you’re interested in, just check ahead for the schedule. Afterwards you can go for a lovely walk through Kensington Gardens which look almost as good as they smell. Additionally if you’re into visiting museums, the British Museum is free admission and I could have easily spent all afternoon there. Right now, they have the Rosetta Stone (no, not the language software). The other two museums I visited were Tate Modern and the National Gallery. Again, both of these were free but had tons of famous artwork. After all this exploring you’re going to be hungry and thirsty. While in London, you have to do what the locals do and go to the Pub at the end of the work day. South Bank has a lot of great pubs and restaurants where locals hang out for a few hours after work and have a couple local brews. Borough Market has tons of options for any appetite, and you can enjoy an ice cold Pimm’s while you browse. If you’re dying for fish and chips or a full English Breakfast, you get them literally everywhere. One more thing to try is the Indian cuisine. London also has a huge Indian influence so if you can handle the spice, it’s definitely worth trying here.

AmsterdamNext on our trip was Amsterdam. It has the European charm with cobblestone streets, homes with window boxes and an intricate canal system. It’s also famous for its Red Light District, and I suggest if this is something you’re interested in seeing that you book a hostel or hotel right in that area. It’s very central and explodes with life at night. You can even see a sex show if you’re so inclined. I think one of the main reasons people travel to Amsterdam is for the weed. It’s legal there, and the Red Light area will also provide you with a lot of coffee shops to smoke at. Our favorite was Easy Times Coffeeshop. Aside from exploring the city and maybe taking a canal ride, I would say the only other must-do is the Heineken Experience brewery tour. I’ve been on a lot of brewery tours, but this was the best I’ve ever done. It’s a ton of fun, and kid friendly if you happen to have a few tag-alongs. I liked Amsterdam’s food a lot. Warning, it’s a bit carb heavy. They’re famous for their pancakes so we tried out The Pancake Bakery, and it was phenomenal. The other notable place we ate was more pancakes at Japanese Pancake World. You have to make a reservation beforehand, but you can watch them prepare the pancakes. Make sure you go very hungry though, super delicious!

Berlin Berlin was easily my favorite stop on the trip. It was the hardest English-wise, but I would still say most people speak a little. Berlin has so much history to it, so we had to check out the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag Building, and Holocaust Memorial. We also visited Mitte, Museum Island, the Berlin Philharmonic, Mauerpark, and took a walk through Tiergarten. Because of the WWII bombing, Berlin has turned a lot of the destruction into beautiful parks like Tiergarten. If you walk for long enough, you may just come across a beer garden on the water.The last thing I would suggest doing is going out to a club. You can dance throughout the night and often into late morning any night of the week in the Kreuzberg or Friedrichshain neighborhoods. Berghain is probably the most famous, but also the most exclusive. We had a great time at Watergate!Food to try should include currywurst, which is a Berlin special, any other wursts, schnitzel, spatzle, and for dessert, their apple strudel is to die for. Berlin is also rich in Turkish food so you have to try Doner Kebab. I may have eaten it a few times while visiting, but Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap was my favorite. And of course, wash all of this down with their German Beer or sweet Club-Mate.

Growing up in Florida I have a deep love of all things Disney so when an opportunity to take a cruise presented itself I decided that my 1st cruise had to be a Disney Cruise. The meticulous attention to detail that Disney is know for most certainly carried over to its cruise line. From food to entertainment there is something for everyone. We have sailed the Fantasy/Eastern Caribbean(St Marrten & St. Thomas) and the Magic/Western Caribbean(Key West, Cozumel & Grand Cayman) we liked both ships for different reasons. All trips stop at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay.

Top 5 reasons we loved our Disney Cruise:5) Teen club for our teenager. He made friends from all over the world, participated in age appropriate activities and got free time away from the parents. 4) Stem to Stern Wine and Chocolate tasting, lucky for us a few members from our group that had prepaid did not show up so my husband and I got a few extra tastings. Great wine and chocolate selection. We did this tasting on both cruises. 3) The Serenity Spa, who does not enjoy a couples massage, free upgrade to massage suite because all the other massage rooms were booked! 2) Castaway Cay, What can I say, Disney own's their own island. We fed the Stingrays and found hidden Mickeys while snorkeling 1) Remy's, an adults only French restaurant inspired by the movie Ratatouille. My husband and I each got the Chef tasting menu with wine pairing. Hands down the most amazing meal we have ever eaten. There is an additional charge to dine at Remy’s, but it was worth every penny!

From Paris a day of bubbly in the heart of Champagne Region is an easy day trip. The TGV train from Paris EST to Reims takes abut 50 minutes and is about $50.00 RT. Rachel, your host for the day will pick you up at the train station in Reims and will take you on an incredible tour of the region. I contacted Rachel with RAW France about 2 months before my arrival to customize my day in the Champagne Region. Rachel is a knowledgeable, friendly and gracious host.

Upon Arrival, Rachel drove us through the french countryside to the family vineyard in Sacy, where we spent the morning touring the champagne house Wafflart-Briet walking the vineyard and tasting some incredible champagne. Rachel served us an amazing lunch of crusty french bread with an assortment of meats and cheese.

Our next stop was a visit to Dom Perignon's Abbey in Hautersvillers, a very quaint town with interesting history. The rest of the afternoon was spent touring various champagne houses my favorite being Veuve Cliequot! Rachel will make all reservations for you for the various houses you would like to visit and will even drive you from house to house. The ultimate experience with a designated driver, no worries on how much you taste.

Once your tour is complete, Rachel will drop you back off at the train station for your trip back to Paris. If you have time to kill before your train departs, Reims is a great town to walk and explore. A visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral or Reims is worth the visit. For more information on the amazing tour: www.rawfrance.com

Kevin McConnell is finishing his senior year at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. He was fortunate to study abroad in Spain for a semester. Enjoy, Kevin's take on Barcelona from a college student's perspective. Barcelona is a city of incredible architecture, deep rooted history and amazing food. Salud!

In the fall of 2013 I spent three and a half months in Barcelona for a semester abroad. Going to Spain, I had small ability to speak Spanish. Do not worry, Barcelona is used to hosting millions of travelers a year, and many destinations you will venture to will have English speakers. You will even be lucky to hear the distinct dialect of Catalan, an infusion of Romance languages neighboring the Mediterranean. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, an indigenous and autonomous region of Spain.MUST SEE/DO Barcelona is world famous for its beautiful buildings, cathedrals, views, nightlife and football (soccer for you wanks). The Elysium of Futbol can be found at the Camp Nou, a stadium with a capacity of 98,000 seats that will be filled to see world class stars like Lionel Messi, Neymar and the infamous vampire Luis Suarez. Their season in La Liga and the Champions League is outside of tourist season, and ticket prices will vary depending on the strength/importance of the opponent. Even a stadium tour is worth your money regardless of being a futbol fan. I went with my mom and friends who couldn’t understand why they only use their feet in soccer and they fell in love. For match days, the atmosphere near the venue in bars is electric, and seeing a game is even better.

La Rambla, the most famous street in Barcelona. Filled with bars, shops, artists and food. Major tourist destination, can lead you to the beach. BEWARE OF PICKPOCKETERS. They are sneaky but not threatening, always have your valuables in your front pockets. This is not a joke; I was never pickpocketed even when inebriated because I was constantly alert of my surroundings and belongings. Leads into Plaza Catalunya, a city hub. Plaza Catalunya- city hub, filled with shops and food. Leads to La Rambla. Political demonstrations are held here.Parque Ciutadella-A long winding park in front of the Arc de Triomf of Barcelona, the original area designated for the Eiffel Tower. Contains a beautiful fountain designed by the man Antoni Gaudi studied under. Many locals hang out here for outdoor activities and there is access to a pond in the central area. The Parliament of Catalonia is in this area as well as an old market and memory to the defenders of Catalonia during the Spanish War of Succession.Gothic Corridor- Older part of the city, where you will find endless food, bars and entertainment as well as cheap shops and the Cathedral of Barcelona. The government building of Spain and Catalonia reside here.

Plaza Espanya- Another city hub, with a bull fighting area converted into an elegant mall and rooftop view of the area. A famous art museum resides here with splendid views of the square. A famous Catalan architect named Antoni Gaudi resided in Barcelona during the late 1900s and in turn transformed the city into his canvas. His magnum opus is the Sagrada Familia, located in the family friendly suburb of Gracia. This cathedral is still BEING CONSTRUCTED after being started in 1882. The church is to be completed by 2027, but who knows if that is feasible with the silly Spanish economy. The structure will host the tallest cathedral spire in the world, and has beautiful stained glass windows, verses written in various languages throughout the complex and even a “parachute” Jesus above the altar. I have seen many famous cathedrals throughout Europe, but the Sagrada Familia takes the cake. Admittance is cheap but book IN ADVANCE. Depending on your patience you can spend hours in the cathedral with a guided or audio tour, and I must recommend venturing up the Nativity scene. The views will give you a great vantage of Barcelona, and is adjacent to Hospital Sant Pau (UNESCO Heritage Site, now the campus I studied at). Another Gaudi design lies in Park Guell in the northern part of the city. This park is world renowned but somewhat underwhelming. The design is very unique and pleasant to look at but is concentrated in a seemingly small area. Worth a trip to visit, but should not be a top priority. Has a good view of the city, but is slightly low elevation. Admittance is a small cost during tourist season, but outside of that time it is free, and has free Wifi. Gaudi designed Casa Mila, also known as La Pedrera located on Passeig De Gracia, a world famous shopping street. Casa Batllo is another famous house design of his worth viewing.

Barcelona is a major commercial hub on the Mediterranean. If you enjoy the beach, a major destination is Barceloneta. There are many shops, cafes, bars and restaurants along the harbor along with a casino and more nightlife. Citges is another beautiful beach about 20 minute train ride outside of the city. It has more beaches and is less crowded.Enjoy nightlife? Barcelona is one of the party capitals of the world. Clubbing is popular for younger crowds and students and lasts all night. It is common for people to get home as late as 6 or 7 am. Many popular clubs are along the waterfront that many travels venture to. Other clubs are in the Eixample district that many locals go to. Clubs can be costly while inside, but promoters are everywhere and are willing to help you. I do not recommend going to Razzmatazz, I had a delightful night there but 6 of my friends got pickpocketed inside.

Not in the clubbing crowd? Barcelona is home to thousands of cervercias or bars. Nearly every corner has one, and the drinking crowds are relatively small, polite, and calm. Drinking in Spain is different than my college atmosphere and of many Americans, so it is common to have alcohol with every meal. Sangria is a common tourist drink as well as cava, a native alcoholic drink in Catalonia. It is similar to champagne but sweeter and not as dry. Prices are inexpensive, especially when drinking native beers like Estrella Dam or the Natty Light of Spain, San Miguel. My Selection of Favorite Bars. Le Cyrano- Price: Cheap- A bar favored by the younger generation with unheard of services in most democratic countries. At Le Cyrano, YOU ARE THE BARTENDER. You simply pay for a glass and a mixer ranging from 3 to 7 euro and they HAND YOU the bottle to pour. Also provides popcorn for our poor drunken souls. Bar Dow Jones- Price: Medium- Popular for advocates and followers of the stock market. Founded by St Louis natives, the bar revolves around the business. There will be stock market “prices” for the quantity of beverages being sold, and will vary based on who is buying what. There is variety of drinks and creative shots. The stock market will “crash” for 5 minutes or so, and all prices are half off like happy hour. There is a Spanish rendition of this bar called La Bolsaria, which has the same drink concepts but for tapas as well. Will show American sports for the homesick. Espit Chupitos-Price Very Cheap- Popular amongst students and younger crowds, a famous shot bar. The bar has nearly 300 shot selections and house favorites for only 2 euro per shot. Many shots include flames and other sorts of props. If you really want to play a joke on a friend that has no children accompanying them, order the Monica Lewinski, and thank me later. Espit Chupitos is a chain, and has another affiliation called Espit Taverna, an actual bar providing popcorn and offers great liquor pitchers. Pipperment-Price: Cheap- a bar located near the Camp Nou offers a variety of liquor pitchers for cheap prices. You can split these liquor pitchers with many people buy ordering a fish bowl and plenty of straws to share. The more the merrier right? Michael Collins-Price-Medium – Need to hear some refreshing English? Attend this authentic Irish pub located directly across from the Sagrada Familia. Serves food as well, and has many TVs so it is great place to go to watch soccer games. Grab a refreshing pint of Guinness or Killian’s and then enjoy the spectacle of the Sagrada Familia waiting outside. Ovella Negra-Price: Very Cheap- A bar hall with two locations. One is in the Gothic Corridor near La Rambla, the other in a more remote location in the northern part of the city. The one with the random location is more of a beer hall. At both you can buy buckets of cheap beer or sangria with a tap and share at tables with plenty of people. Provides popcorn, pool tables. George Payne’s-Price: Medium – Another Irish pub near Plaza Catalunya, La Rambla. Hosts a massive Monday Night Beer Pong (Ruit) Tournament, has English speaking bartenders and the most TVs.

Enjoy Hiking? Monserrat- Hour train ride outside of the city to the wonderful mountain of Monserrat. There is a beautiful monastary on top of the mountain that you have to take a trolley/incline too. Costs around 40 euros but very worth it. You can hike up into the formations for hours while watching the brave rock climbers from thousands of feet above the ground. Montjuic- overlooks the southern part of the city/harbor. A former fort, used by both sides during the Spanish Civil War, has a significant history. You can see only a portion of the city from its heights but still worth the hike, not expensive to get to or tour. Overlooks Plaza Espanya. Holds the Olympic Park, Barcelona having been host for the Summer Olympics in 1992. Parque Labyrinth- A lesser-known part of the city neighboring the Universitat Barcelona has great vantage points and unique green design. A simple metro ride to get to will in turn display beautiful fountains and a complicated maze with statutes throughout. Parque Bunkers- Another unknown hike in northern Barcelona. Simple metro ride will take you there to begin a 30 minute long hike. Atop the former Civil War Bunker you can see across the city, including sites like the Sagrada Familia and Barceloneta. My personal favorite hike, many people bring snacks and beer. Mt Tibidabo- The tallest elevation in the city. Has a spectacular view and church atop the mountain. There is also a small amusement park with a ferris wheel up there.

FOOOOOOD! Spain is famous for its tapas and markets. Barcelona has great markets near the waterfront and La Rambla. They serve fresh seafood right from the Mediterranean and splendid Iberico ham and other meats left hanging fresh in front of you. The markets are cheap and you can negotiate prices. Small sandwiches called bocadillo can be sold just about everywhere and are very cheap with good fresh ingredients. Barcelona loves bread, you can find it anywhere. A common snack is a loaf of bread, spread with garlic, olive oil and tomato. The Mediterranean diet is awesome and very affordable. The seafood is awesome, and so are the famous tapas (small, cheap appetizers found anywhere) as well as paella and fideu. If you miss American food, visit Milk for a breakfast in the Gothic Corridor. There is a place nearby where you can get a pedicure massage thing from the flesh eating fish that eat away your dead skin. Never tried it, heard it was cool if that is your thing. Enjoy the city, it was an awesome experience to live there. I personally recommend visiting during September. It was still very hot, the Mediterranean was warm and there is a huge Independence Day demonstration (September 11) , fascinating to witness. La Merce is a seasonal festival from September 20th-24th, also really fun. Barcelona is inexpensive, safe and has a understandable metro.

A comfortable lifestyle, a peaceful democracy and overwhelming natural beauty make Costa Rica a bucket list trip for all ages. Sitting between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica's landscape is painted with lush rainforest, towering volcanos and numerous mico-climates.

This month guest blogger Robert Stockdale shares his Costa Rica Golf Adventure on the links of La Iguana. Bob shares a passion for travel with his wife, Michele. When they get an opportunity to play golf when they travel Bob is always up for a round or two.

Most of us who love to play golf know that the sport can be one of the most frustrating and rewarding games. You can hit a perfect shot and still end up in the bunker and other times hit a tree and end up in the fairway. We talk about fades, slices, putts, birdies, bogeys, and knee knockers at our local club. We remember every shot in our round and describe them to anyone who will listen. Even on a bad day with bad shots after bad it takes only one good one to make us feel like a pro and want to tee it up again. And if you are like Michele and myself, you sometimes take golf on a vacation to try someone else’s local nightmare and delight. La Iguana Golf Course in Costa Rica was one that will always draw us back for more delight than nightmare.

La Iguana Golf Course is almost 6700 yards of fun from the back with a slope of 151. It treats you through an adventure of 13 holes engulfed in the rainforest and the other holes finishing with wind and views of the Pacific Ocean. El Indio, Hole one, will get the blood flowing with a challenging up hill par 5 578 yards with a dogleg left into a small green surrounded by the rain forest. Be happy with par or bogey and enjoy the sounds. El Tolomuco, Hole 2, is a par 4 449 yards with hazards on the left and right of the green. Par is a birdie on this hole. Watch for wildlife running across the course.

El Aguila, Hole 3, is you birdie chance with only par 4 325 yards to the hole and open fairway. Be careful, because you are already enjoying the beauty of the rainforest and the cart girl has delivered you a drink. El Tucan, the signature hole, is par 5 545 yards over a creek and will have you taking photographs and pulling out extra balls that went out of bounds. Look for the birds and wildlife all around this hole and you will forget about the double bogey. El Garrobo is a par 4 379 yards that will allow you to get a stroke back if you are accurate of the tee. El Brujo is your first Par 3 at 172 yards with par on your radar.

Pura Vida is par 4 324 yards of beauty that requires an iron or fairway wood off the tee to give you the birdie chance. El Pizote par 3 182 yards has you already forgetting about the score and looking for monkeys in the rainforest. La Iguana, Hole 9, par 4 430 yards of trouble. Be happy with the bogey and the food you ordered from your cart. Once you sit down on the turn and have another beer you will smile at all the fun you had on the front nine and forget about the monkey who had stolen your ball off the green.

You look at the card and see a par 3 starting you off the back and think par will turn you day of golf around. La Fuente, Hole 10, a 187 yards with an undulating green dogleg right with water protecting the green. Bogey is good score, par is heaven on this hole. El Mono is back into the rainforest Par 5 of 505 with a chance for birdie and two shots to the green if your are far enough right off the tee. If you are not far enough off the tee do not worry, Pura Vida has taking over your body and you are still smiling.

Suj Majestad is par 4 462 yards of a monster hole with a dogleg left and plenty of monkeys. If you are lousy off the tee, forget about going for the green, and lay up for bogey. A big snowman for me on the card for this Hole the first time I played lead me to thanking the cart girl waiting off the green for another drink after the disaster swings and two lost balls. La Culebra, a par 5 527 yards of narrow fairway allow you the chance for a birdie or par on the card. La Guacamaya is par 3 188 yards out in the valley with wind and out of bounds at the back of the green. El Lagarto is par 5 560 yards with river in front of the green and pond at the back of the green. This unfortunately, was another snowman on my card for me on this par 5 with a ball in the river and poor tee shot to start the hole.

El Delfin is a par 3 150 yards with a shot over the small lake to hit the green. Hit a club down if the wind is swirling. El Cangrejo, Hole 17, par 4 338 with an ocean view and a lake guarding the green. La Conquista Del Paraiso par 4 397 finishing hole has the hotel and ocean in view and reminding you that the pool is waiting after the round and afternoon massage at the spa.

My score the first time along with Michele was not what we wanted for the day. A few balls out of bounds and misses that made our second shots require thought and precision, which we did not have that day. The La Iguana Golf Course ate my lunch and Michele’s, but we did not mind. There was so much natural beauty to enjoy in the round of golf and wildlife that you easily forgot about your last poor shot and only remembered the good ones. It was a golf course that challenged you and made you want to play it again differently. We played the course again on our vacation and we played more 3 wood shots during our second round and more accurate irons for our second shots where the course was tight. We lowered our scores the second time we played the course on our vacation over the first nine but the wind picked up on the finishing holes to even out the day. No worries because you knew the pool and spa were waiting.

This summer playing at the local golf clubs and thinking about last winter makes Michele and I yearn to play this La Iguana Golf Course again this winter and share its beauty and wildlife with a group of friends. Not just because of the challenge of each hole, which in itself was wonderful, but the smile it put on my face.

The Cambodian Islands are undeveloped compared to neighboring Thai Islands. Looking for pristine coral reefs, dense jungle and gorgeous white beaches then Kohn Rong, Cambodia is the place to go.

This month guest blogger Thomas Godinsky shares his 2 week adventure with the happiest people on the planet. Tom is a recent graduate of Ohio University in Athens who decided his first trip outside of the United States would be on a volunteer adventure to Cambodia.

I stepped off of the plane in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, I honestly had no clue what to expect and as I walked out of the terminal to meet my team leader, my Cambodia Volunteer Adventure was underway. It became all to real, as I hopped into the first of many Tuk Tuks I would be riding during my stay. There were hundreds of these little carts attached to motorbikes zipping all throughout the city. With no traffic laws in Phnom Penh, families of five, including newborn babies and elderly women rode on a single motorbike and zoomed in and out of traffic. I honestly thought we were going to crash about every two minutes as the citizens of Phnom Penh zipped by, cut each other off and drove the wrong way down the highway but they all somehow understood what others were doing and I never saw a single crash. Although I only had the opportunity to stay in the city for a night when I got there and a night when I got back from the island, I found the city to be a very enjoyable as well as being a very cheap place. Yes, temperatures got up to 105 degrees in the city; but the experience was well worth it and so were the prices. A full meal at a local restaurant topped me out at about 4 dollars and beers ranged anywhere from 50 cents to a dollar. An hour-long Thai massage topped off my first night in Phnom Pehn at only the cost of ten dollars. In the city of Phnom Penh there is a huge central market. An average Tuk Tuk ride across the entire city was around two to three dollars; just about everything that involved money could be bartered on. Five American dollars was the equivalent to about 20,000 Cambodia Riel. You could pay in American dollars and either received back American dollars or Riel, however they do not have a coinage system so they only trade with bills. It was pretty cool to walk around with a couple 25,000-dollar bills in my pocket.

Tuk Tuk Ride

The Central Market was thriving with hundreds of people trading goods at very cheap prices. There were literally hundreds of shops connected to each other in the market with men, women and children trading items from clothing, jewelry, NIKE shoes, Northface Backpacks, and electronics. I am not saying all of these items were legit but for the right price and with a little bit of bartering, you could get the majority of the goods for fewer than ten dollars. Elephant pants are a staple in the country, so I had to pick up a few pairs for four dollars a piece. It was amazing to see all of the shops and especially the food market. I was on the search for fried tarantulas, a delicacy in the country. The first thing on my list when I got to the plaza was to find the spiders but it was very hard to communicate with the locals and was pointed to in several directions. I never came across my desired spiders but I did settle for giant fried crickets. I offered one dollar to just try one giant cricket, however the lady proceeded to give me a bag of 25 crickets. We attracted some attention as the Americans with me gather around and got their cameras out. This brought by local bystanders who found an Americans first cricket a hilarious site. I picked out the biggest cricket and tossed it in my mouth. Outside of a few legs getting stuck in my teeth, they weren’t half bad, tasted a lot like BBQ potato chip.

Tom Trying His First Cricket

The first morning of the trip, we had a four-hour bus ride to Sihanoukville, where we could board a ferry for a three-hour boat ride through the Gulf of Thailand. There was less congestion outside of the city but it was still nerve wrecking to drive on the highways with cars, vans and trucks zipping by and driving down the wrong side of road. To add to the chaos on the road, cows, oxen, and dogs crossed the road at their leisure and backed up traffic, it was quite the sight. Nobody seemed to own any of these animals and they were just free to roam wherever. After getting lost for a while we eventually made it to the pier and met our ferry driver and our scuba instructor. The ride over was beautiful and as the sun was setting over the water we approached a group of islands and docked into Koh Rong Island, our new home for the next two weeks. This was the most beautiful place I have ever seen with the happiest people in the world. The locals live in wooden, one room bungalows with almost next to nothing. No running water, limited electricity and clothing and no trash or recycle facilities. For as beautiful as the island and the village were, there was trash everywhere, literally everywhere. The main problem is that the locals did not seem to mind at all. All they had was an incinerator for all of their trash but no one there cared to actually use it until we arrived. All of the water they needed for cleaning themselves and their clothes and utilities was gathered from the rooftops.

Despite all off the rubbish, the people on the island who lived with so little lived and laughed so much. The Khmer people are so happy with what they have and more than welcoming when it came to us living in their village. To end our first day on the island was the most beautiful sunset anyone could imagine. We all gathered at the pier to watch the sunset over the other islands the glow of the horizon stretched out over the clear blue waters of the Gulf of Thailand. I thought it was the perfect moment until a few hours later when we went for our first night swim of many of the trip. A short ten minute hike to a powder white beach, we were at the water and this was the most amazing seen you could imagine. The bioluminescent water! That’s right, with each movement in the water, thousands of tiny organisms lit up our bodies like an aurora. To make this experience even better, I looked up. Out in the middle of the Gulf on a tropical island there is next to no light pollution, thus illuminating every single star in the sky. On top of the most amazing starlit sky I have every seen, the Milky Way was clearly visible across the entire sky and planets were clearly visible. Floating in the glowing water staring up at the galaxy, planets and thousands of stars I look up to spot shooting stars flying across the Milky Way. This was the most amazing life experience! Glowing water, the Milky Way, engulfed in stars and planets and now add multiple shooting stars, I was in paradise.

This being a volunteer project, our main goal was to help out all of the locals in the village. Everyday we scuba dove to construct man-made coral reef pods to help repopulate the fish in order to preserve local sustainable fishing areas. Scuba diving through the reefs on not only Koh Rong Island but also the surrounding islands was such an adventure and an amazing site to see. I had the opportunity to swim with thousands of fish and in and out of various reefs and even got inked on by an octopus. As far as it living goes on the island, it was an eye opening experience. We stayed in a three bedroom, wooden bungalow that only really protected us from the rain. With the doors open all the time, and only shutters on the windows and a tin roof, we quickly became associated with living with a various amount of creatures. Geckos from two inches long to a foot long lined the walls of the bungalow, giant millipedes crawled around at their leisure and a family of bats hung from the ceiling of my room. You quickly got used to living surrounded by bugs, dogs, cats and chickens.

The people were the best part of the entire trip. They all were so happy and welcoming. There were a few customs we quickly learned when dealing with the locals. We quickly learned that whenever trading with someone that you always hand money to them with two hands and fold your hands when saying “Akun” or thank you. Hand placement is very important when thanking someone. It varies from the chest level, to the chin, to in front of the face; to the top of the head depending on how old the person is that you are talking to or to Buddha. (Top of the head.) Everyone from ages 2 to 90 would always greet me with a “Hello!” every time you walked by. One of the more excited experiences was being able to sit in on adult and children’s English classes. We had the opportunity to teach the students in the village some important English words in order for them to trade with the western influence. The Khmer people were so happy to learn English because it is becoming a necessity for them as more and more tourists’ visit and fish on the surrounding islands. The children on the island were so amazing. They were more than willing to try and help us out with our work on the mainland or hop in our carriage full of sandbags just to snag a ride down a hill. The majority did not wear shoes around the island and the younger children always preferred not to wear pants or in fact anything at all. I don’t blame them for it was about 100 degree everyday with humidity that makes Cleveland sound appealing. We quickly adapted and after about the third day, we did not wear shoes except to do our work in. On the mainland, we helped build a water reservoir for the village to collect water and established an effective piping system to pump the water down a hill to the village and into wells. We also, took out and began to replace bathroom doors on the two-room schoolhouse. We picked up rubbish all around the village and built and cemented a wall around the playground outside of the schoolhouse.

As far was the weather goes, it was hot! However, I would take it more than any day in Cleveland. It was a tropical paradise, filled with palm trees, fresh coconuts, fresh fish, and the whitest beaches I have ever seen. It was the end of the dry season and the beginning of the rainy season when I was there. We did not get any rainfall for the first five or six days of the trip, so our water supply was low. We were limited to two pails full of larvae infested water to shower with; at the end of the day and when it eventually ran out, we just didn’t shower. All a part of the experience! It was a relief when the rainfall did come and filled up all of the tubs from the rooftops, however the rain did not want to stop for the last few days of the trip. It was crazy to experience the heat of the dry season and the rain of the monsoons. Even got to see a water cyclone out over the gulf!

We did have one weekend off for some fun on the other side of the island where there was a tourist, western style area. On this other side of the island we went on a two-hour snorkeling expedition, where there was great visibility. There were some great reefs for snorkeling and had a quite a few encounters with sea life. I quickly found out that clown fish are very protective of their anemones and are not afraid to swim right up into your goggles and snap at them. Also I swam into an Octopus and a few colorful crabs down there. On the beach there was a strip of small bars and restaurants that had daily room rentals above them. We spent the entire afternoon hopping around these bars and meeting people from all over the world. We came along one place call “The Shotgun Bar” where a German guy who welcomed us in off the beach to “shotgun a brew.” Here they had a giant chalkboard full of people who have came to this bar from all over the world to “shotgun” a can of beer. When we got there The United States was fourth on the list with 993 people on the board and when all of our group did one we made it two 999. I had the pleasure of shot gunning another brew and writing in the 1000 mark on the board.

When it was all said and done and all of our objectives were complete, after two weeks in a tropical paradise it was time to head back to the city and then back to The United States. The island did not let us leave kindly though. With one last monsoon rain for the three-hour ferry ride to the mainland, with some crazy waves we made it back to Sihanoukville When we docked we headed for The Holy Cow. This was a gem in the port city. Here they washed all of their vegetables in Holy Water. When we finally returned to Phnom Penn we had a few hours out before our flights left the next day. We ate dinner at a Chinese restaurant and then hit the city to explore the night market. This was a market right on a river when live performances and shops everywhere. With one more ten-dollar hour long Thai massage and a few drinks, the trip was coming to an end. This was definitely a life changing experience and something I will remember for the rest of my life. I was able to see how people on a tropical island live and was able to become part of their lives for a short time. The opportunity to give back by helping people provide for their village by preserving the fishing waters and building a water reservoir was such a great feeling. The Cambodia Islands are so beautiful and filled with the greatest and happiest people on earth. I can truly recommend an experience through Reach Out Volunteers to anyone who wants to contribute change , as well as see the world. I had the opportunity to pick up and use some Chinese and Khmer and had the time of my life on the other side of the world. I had the chance to eat some extraordinary foods and live the island life. This was an amazing experience and I am glad the first time I had the chance to travel was across the world to an island paradise and all for a great cause!

Jerry Alt is a serious nature photographer, with works sold and published in various media and to private buyers, but brings a sense of humor and patience to his business especially when helping other budding photographers. Jerry pays attention to constantly improving his craft in other forms including portrait and event photography. Jerry is owner of Bordeaux Studio, located at the corner of Church and Darrow in Evanston. Along with his partner, Annette Patko, they provide fashion, glamour and boudoir photography. He is on the Board of Directors of Chicago Photographic Society, and a member of various nature and photography related organizations. Find his nature images at www.altimagery.com and his studio work at www.bordeauxstudio.com. Both he and his photography sites have Facebook pages as well.

In October 2012 I had the opportunity to cross yet another exotic location off my bucket list. This time it was a week-long trip to the Galapagos Islands aboard the Celebrity Explorer. Located 600 miles west of Quito, Ecuador, the island chain is habitat for some of the strangest creatures on earth in an environment still minimally impacted by the travelers who can manage (and afford) to make the trip. The islands are a national park, and both the size of individual groups and the total number of visitors per year are regulated. On our trip a maximum of 12 tourists were accompanied by native Ecuadoran park rangers. There are no dock facilities large enough to accommodate our ship in any of the islands and all approaches were by Zodiac boat. You'll find that a bit daunting at first but quickly come to realize that the boats are stable. We had about half wet landings - where you slid off the side and walked in shallow waters to shore - and half were landings at small rock outcroppings or flimsy looking wooden docks.

The flight in to Baltra was uneventful, but it was a bit strange to see that the runway traversed the entire length. There is a reasonable airport facility with clean restrooms and minimal food and drinks but it was comfortable. Upon arrival you'll be transported by bus to one of two docks where you'll board a Zodiac for transport to your boat/ship. If you have a bit of time before the buses depart, or before your flight back home, you'll have an opportunity to buy souvenirs in a small series of shacks set up behind the airport.

We found endemic wildlife even before we left Baltra. Frigate birds, Sally Lightfoot crabs, marine iguanas and even a few sea lions were visible from the dock area. Of course the temptation was to grab your camera and take a shot -- but I can tell you that these pictures will pale next to the opportunities you'll have on any of the islands you visit. On this topic, the one thing I noted as a professional nature photographer was that many people did not plan well for taking advantage of these photo ops. You won't need a professional camera or a telephoto lens (though I had two of each), but be sure to bring extra batteries, plenty of memory cards, and be sure to make certain you either have a waterproof camera or take caution to keep yours out of the seawater. Of the 90 or so passengers on our ship, at least 8 to 10 had their cameras fail either from dropping them on the rocks, getting them wet, or assuming that "water resistant" was the same as "waterproof". You don't want to ruin your trip by being without a camera, so think about taking a spare.

On our first island we did a wet landing on a sandy beach where we could see sea lions lounging along its length. Although the park rangers will ask that you give the animals room, most of them are unafraid of humans and will allow you to get as close as you want - in some cases they will lie in your path and make you go around. I found that the problem wasn't finding interesting flora and fauna to photograph, but making decisions when to stop taking the shots. For that reason taking twice as many memory cards as you think you'll need will come in handy. And don't forget to take video of your encounters with the native species!

What you'll find is plenty of chances to see sea lions in harems, cows nursing babies, hundreds if not thousands of iguanas, and plenty of birds. What you won't find, unless you go in the rainy season, is much in the way of flowers. Most of the trees and bushes have adapted to the brine conditions and though green won't show much in the way of blossoms. If you are lucky you'll get a chance to snorkle with turtles and sea lions, both of which seemed content to swim close by. If you have a waterproof camera you may get some good underwater shots of these amazing creatures. But you don't need to take pictures to enjoy the surroundings, just keep your eyes open and listen to your guides who are very knowledgeable.

The largest island, Santa Cruz, is home to the Darwin research station, and is the only place you'll be able to observe the famed Galapagos tortoises up close. In the edges of the rain forest in its interior you will likely face the prospect of rain so take a rain jacket. You will also want a hat and/or sunscreen since you will be at or near the equator on all the islands. At the end of your days aboard ship keep your eyes peeled for some stunning sunsets. We also spotted dolphins, turtles, a couple of whales in the distance, and manta rays leaping from the water to rid themselves of parasites (something I'd never seen before) so not all the life is on the islands themselves.

The islands are home to many species that don't exist elsewhere. By the end of your trip you'll be able to say you've seen more than your fill of such creatures, including the marine iguana. These adapted to feed in the sea, and upon coming back to shore will dry off in the sun and sneeze salt out of their nostrils. Don't be surprised to see hundreds of them, some encrusted with salt and others with a greenish or reddish cast from the algae that grows on their scales. You'll also see the flightless cormorant nesting in the rocks, along with the black and white Nazca boobies and the namesake Blue-footed boobies. If you are lucky you'll see flamingoes feeding in the salt marshes -- beautiful orange birds that put the ones you've seen at zoos to shame. If you are there during the nesting season you may have to watch your step as the boobies tend to build nests anywhere they want on the ground including the footpaths you take on your hikes.

In terms of physical requirements you should be in reasonably good shape to enjoy the trip because you are going to be on islands with little or nothing in terms of human improvement (meaning you won't find latrines!). Hiking is different on each island, ranging from soft sand to gravel paths to walking over lava fields and rocks. And of course it will be helpful if you can get on and off the Zodiac boats without flopping into the water and soaking your clothes. However, the average age of our ship's passengers was well over 50 and there were no children (probably due to the cost and the absence of phone coverage and iPads!). For footwear you can wear surf shoes or Teva sandals for most of your hikes, though you may want to carry tennis shoes or hiking shoes for some of the drier islands and longer treks. Depending on which tour company you travel with, you may seen two or three different sites each day with distinctly different weather conditions.

Before or after your trip to the Galapagos archipelago you may wish to extend your trip by visiting Peru and the Machu Picchu Mayan ruins. If you do, it's an easy flight to Lima Peru from Quito but then you'll likely stage in Cusco where the altitude is 12,000 feet. After a week at sea level we experienced mild altitude sickness, but the good news is your hotel will likely have oxygen bottles to help you cope, and the really good news is that the mountains of Machu Picchu are actually much lower altitude than in downtown Cusco. That side trip was a delightful add on and not terribly expensive considering you've already flown to South America. I would encourage you to use a good tour company or take a cruise ship to avoid having to plan all the transfers and transportation on your own, but I have friends who have been several times and navigated on their own on subsequent trips.

This month, guest blogger Sarah Martin shares her spiritual pilgrimage that follows a medieval route known as the Camino de Santiago. Originally from Buffalo, NY Sarah now lives in the Washington DC area. She enjoys travel, attending live theater performances and practicing Pilates. Sarah is planning to return to the Camino in 2015, this time she will explore the Northern Route, Ruta Norteño

In June 2010, my former college roommate, who is a long-time friend, and I made a spiritual pilgrimage following the medieval route known as the Camino de Santiago (St. James’ Way) walking the Portuguese Route in short day stages from Porto, Portugal, and crossing into Spain to reach Santiago, about 225 kilometers north. It took us about 12 days to reach Santiago, a little under two weeks of walking. Our daily stages were determined by the location of the inexpensive pilgrim albergues (accommodations) along the route. Although we bought food along the route, we carried all our possessions for the pilgrimage in our backpacks and each of us used a pair of walking sticks.

Before leaving Porto, we picked up a “credencial” or pilgrim’s passport at the Cathedral. In addition to giving us access to inexpensive pilgrim albergues (accommodations) along the route, by getting the credenciales rubber stamped along the way, at churches, albergues, and restaurants, and presenting it at the Pilgrim’s Office in Santiago, to show we had walked at least 100 kilometers along the route, we each qualified for a certificate of completion, known as a “compostela.”

Our days quickly settled into a simple routine: Get up, make some coffee, check the guidebook to get an idea of the route, and leave the albergue by 8:00 am, when it closed. Yellow arrows painted on buildings, utility poles, and sidewalks marked our way to Santiago. Stylized scallop shells sometimes appeared as way markers. We’d walk for a couple of hours and stop for a late breakfast at one of the small restaurant-bars along the route. After that, we’d continue to the next albergue, check in, grab a shower, and maybe do some hand laundry.

Food was simple and fresh. As we walked through mostly rural villages, we saw chickens and small plots of greens, grapes, and potatoes outside of local homes. Most restaurants along the route offered an economically priced, daily pilgrim’s menu for the largest meal of the day, lunch. For an average of 5 Euros (about $7.50) each, we had our choice of an appetizer, main course, and either a glass of wine or dessert. Supper was often small plates (tapas) and local wine. I loved the Albariño, a local white wine made from grapes grown in Galicia, one of the areas through which we walked.

Reaching Santiago and Obradoiro square in front of the Cathedral and sharing in the ancient pilgrim traditions was inspiring and exciting – following the footsteps of countless earlier pilgrims, we entered the Cathedral, saw the Tree of Jesse with its grooves created by millions of pilgrims placing their hands in gratitude for a safe journey; viewing the supposed resting place of Santiago (St. James); seeing the Botafumeiro, a huge incense burner swung by eight seminarians who raised it to the ceiling and guided its path by swinging it from one end of the Cathedral to the other. Walking through a city that began over a thousand years ago is humbling; imagining the life which it has seen, impressive.

Although it shouldn’t have been, I was surprised at the very few material items one truly needs on a daily basis. As recommended, my pack weighed less than 10 percent of my body weight, and could, in fact, have been even lighter if I had tried harder to eliminate the non-essential items, such as a sleeveless shift to wear after showering. For this pilgrimage, I carried a sleeping bag liner for my bedding and was a little cold; the next time I will include a lightweight sleeping bag.

Bella Roma! This month guest blogger Gina Helcberger goes off the beaten path and meanders through this beautiful city. Read about papa, pasta, passion and piazzas as you take this unforgettable journey to Rome.

The Coliseum

Trevi Fountain ~ Water Bottle Refill

Trevi Fountain

Papa, pasta, passion and piazzas will make your trip to Italy unforgettable. I’ve been to Italy three times in the last three years and every trip includes Rome. When I think of Rome, I think of a Vatican neighborhood eatery where a woman the waiter’s call “Mama” stood close to me expertly deboning the bass I had ordered. While she casually prepares the fish, she speaks the singsong Italian language to other patrons who seem like family in this tiny, warm Italian dining room. The locals in Rome are incredibly friendly, welcoming and English is spoken almost everywhere.This quintessential Roman monument is the Coliseum. Construction began in 72 AD and, incredibly, we can still walk in the footsteps of ancient Romans who filled the amphitheater by the tens of thousands. Next to the Coliseum is the Roman Forum. These ruins lie in the heart of ancient Rome. Walking in the Roman Forum under a bright blue sky and warm Italian sun, while looking at the tall umbrella trees on Palatine Hill can make you physically feel the grandeur of the city that had once been considered the center of world.In Vatican City, Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums are packed with a dizzying amount of art “gathered” by the Roman Empire. After the artistic overload of the Vatican museums, you will be happy to observe the required “silencio” as you gaze upon Michelangelo’s intricate work in the Sistine Chapel. If you want to see the Pope avoid going in July - he’s not home, but every Wednesday morning he makes his way through the crowd in Saint Peter’s Square before officiating Mass to the masses.Amazing sculpture is everywhere in Rome, on the facades of private homes, government buildings and bridges over the Tiber River. A visit to Nicola Salvi’s Baroque masterpiece, Trevi Fountain, is required because legend has it that those who throw a coin into the fountain are destined to return to Rome. Just don’t throw yourself in a la Fellini’s famous La Dolce Vita character.Roman piazza’s are all about cafes, and a much-needed site-seeing break. The Spanish steps at the Piazza di Spagna is a perfect place to stop and have a gelato after strolling one of the world’s most expensive streets - Via Condotti. On via Condotti you’ll find Yves St. Laurent, Louis Vuitton ,Valentino, Giorgio Armani and a perhaps a few baubles to take home. Piazza Navona is large and filled with artists, performers, and yet another beautiful Bernini creation, The “Fountain of the Four Rivers.” It has almost too many restaurants with outdoor tables from which to watch the action in the square. Campo di Fiore is nearby and in the morning food and flower vendors squeeze tightly into the square. You’ll find great antique and clothing shops on the streets leading to the square as well.There are many beautiful must-see Roman monuments I haven’t included (like the Pantheon, The Appian Way and Castel Sant'Angelo), but there are less visited sites worth mentioning. On Via Venuto, behind the Spanish Steps, you can visit the church of Santa Maria della Concezione die Cappuccini where the Capuchin museum self-tour includes the skeletal remains of more than 3,700 monks. The artistic arrangement of bones - which include light fixtures, crosses and altars - is amazing. The feel of the museum is less macabre and more reverential after listing to a moving introduction recorded by a friar who speaks to the meaning of life. The Galleria Borghese houses the works of Rome’s sculpting genius Bernini including David and the Apollo and Daphne. Bernini’s work is all over the city, but the works in the gallery are so beautiful they nearly brought me to tears. Buy tickets before leaving home and save yourself a wait in line. The Villa Borghese gardens and lake offer a refreshing green space where you can buy food from a vendor, rent a rowboat or bike and find a quiet spot to picnic.The medieval Trastevere neighborhood is a perfect place to hop off the beaten tourist path. Laundry hangs on lines between faded centuries-old apartment buildings on narrow cobblestone streets. A weary traveler can enjoy a reflective moment in Basilica Santa Maria di Cecilia, which anchors the intimate Piazza di Santa Cecilia. Have lunch or enjoy a cappuccino or vino at an outdoor coffee bar and enjoy the plethora of flora decorating windows in this warm and inviting Roman neighborhood. If you are having a coffee or snack, it is much cheaper to enjoy your refreshment at the bar or in a nearby piazza. However, it is worth the splurge to leisurely sit at the outdoor tables. Stay as long as you like. In Italy, it is expected for patrons to enjoy their food slowly.If shopping on via Condotti is too rich for your blood and you don’t want imported wares from the many aggressive legal and illegal vendors, then go to the Porta Portese Flea Market. It is humongous and open Sundays from 7 am to 1 pm. Bypass the cheap imported souvenir stalls and find the artists and vintage tables for truly unique gifts.Finally, during all of this historic, shopping, eating and treasure-hunting fun you’ll be pleased to know that you’ll only need one water bottle to make it through the day. Rome has water spigots everywhere. In tourist areas and neighborhood streets, you’ll find water running from artistic and not so artistic faucets. The water is potable and very good. I drank it on three trips without ill effect. So save your money for wine!My favorite attraction in Italy has to be its people. I enjoy the public bickering, laughing, gesturing and displays of passion found in every nook and cranny of the Italian landscape. Who wouldn’t enjoy sitting in a small café eating lunch while and old man in a white apron swears in Italian as he is swatting flies. I am so looking forward to my next visit.

This month, guest blogger Elisabeth Kulp challenges readers to step out of their comfort zone to experience a once in a lifetime opportunity. In a three part blog she will share cultural influences, culinary delights and destination highlights of her recent trip to Morocco. Elizabeth is passionate about cooking and travel!

Part 3 in a 3 Part Series

Fès el Bali (a UNESCO World Heritage site) was one of my favorite stops on my tour of the diverse country of Morocco. Its rich history, both ancient and modern, tells the tales of people of different religions living together peacefully. The influx of people from various places around the Mediterranean has contributed to some beautiful architecture. Morocco is unique to the African continent in that it borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Though Fès is inland, the climate of this area of Morocco is definitely cooler than the south of the country because of these two bodies of water.

In Fés, one can spend days roaming the ancient streets of the medinas, both old and new. The souq in Fés el Bali is a maze of alleys and narrow lanes bustling with locals, mules, businessmen and tourists. The goods for sale are overwhelming. Everything from fresh meat and spices, to carpets and leather goods can be purchased. In order to get the most out of your visit to the historic medina, it is best to have a guide. They are for hire through tourist offices and tour companies.

A bit northwest of Fés is the ancient Roman city of Volubilis. Having visited numerous other Roman ruins in various countries, I thought this might just be another ‘broken pillar’ on my list. Volubilis is magnificent. Much of it is fairly well intact and the examples of tile work in some sections are amazing. Prepare to be overwhelmed by its size and beauty. Let your imagination run wild thinking about how this city bustled in the third century B.C.

Though I visited numerous other fantastic places on my Moroccan adventure, Essaouira and Marrakech were the final highlights of my trip. In Marrakech, you can wander the medina, as in Fés, but the real highlight here is the Djemaa el Fna Square. Here, you can eat your way through numerous stands selling grilled meats, couscous dishes, snails, desserts and freshly squeezed juices all while being entertained by snake charmers, monkeys, and dancers. It is an experience not to be missed.

Essaouira, directly west of Marrakech, is a beautiful seaside town on the Atlantic Ocean. Aside from making a point to enjoy several days on the beaches here, it is worthwhile to explore the port and afterward enjoy some of the fresh catch of the day. There are fortifications to explore and, of course, the souq. If a visit to the Western Sahara is not on the agenda, make sure you ride a camel while in Essaouira. It is an unexpected pleasure and will put a smile on your face. Happy Travels!